Tanzania

ILRI’s mission is to improve food and nutritional security and to reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe, and sustainable use of livestock — ensuring better lives through livestock.

The institute’s research for development agenda addresses the complex mix of challenges and opportunities faced by small- and medium-scale livestock operators who are currently providing most of the meat, milk, eggs as well as staple cereals across the diverse mixed and pastoral husbandry systems of Africa and Asia.

Such enterprises present multiple and synergistic opportunities to meet the rising demand for milk, meat and eggs; while simultaneously improving incomes, livelihoods and nutrition for poor households, strengthening adaptive capacity and resilience (especially to climate change) and alleviating the threats posted by livestock farming to human and environmental health.

Previous ILRI work

The ILRI Impact Book (2021) provides a review of the previous 46 years of the major achievements, lessons and impacts by ILRI and its predecessors (ILRAD and ILCA) in Tanzania and elsewhere. It includes science, capacity building and development impacts on productivity, vaccines, value chain upgrading, income, employment, nutrition, environment and One Health. https:// www.ilri.org/ILRI-research-impact

The livestock challenge in Tanzania

The livestock sector in Tanzania contributes about seven percent to the national GDP. This is considered low given the large numbers of livestock in the country – the second largest in Africa. Unlocking the productivity potential of this livestock could enhance its benefits to food and nutritional security and livelihoods.

The productivity challenge stems primarily from the decline in the natural resource base, characterized by limited availability of high-quality feeds and the seasonality of rainfall. Furthermore, there is limited access to essential inputs and services for breeding, disease management, credit and working capital and extension services. The absence of reliable markets for livestock and livestock products also discourages investments that could improve productivity.

The situation is further aggravated by the ongoing climate emergency, which is resulting in frequent and more severe droughts and unpredictable weather patterns. The increasing natural resource degradation and competition for land resources between farmers and livestock keepers require immediate attention. The climate crisis requires targeted innovations that leverage the socio-economic and market drivers while also addressing growing environmental and health effects associated with livestock agri-food systems.

Addressing the climate crisis requires targeted innovations that harness socio-economic and market drivers, all while addressing the mounting environmental and health impacts associated with livestock agri-food systems.